Governing device for magnetos.



APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

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GOVERNING DEVICE FOR MAGNETOS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. w. 1917.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- aw M eniTEn STATES PATENT on ionROBERT MACK WARREN, OF SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOB TO SPLITDORFELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GOVERNING DEVICE FOR MAGNETOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT MACK VVAR- nnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Sumter, in the county of Sumter and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GoverningDevices for Magnetos, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in governingdevices for magnetos, and more particularly to a governing device for amagneto used for furnishing ignition for a gas engine.

Prior to the present invention, governing devices for magnetos have beenprovided which are utilized for controlling the speed of the gas engineby short circuiting or breaking the circuit of the generating coil ofthe magneto when the speed of the gas engine reaches a predetermineddesired point. An object of the present invention is to provide agoverning device which will be very simple in construction and efficientin action, which governing device operates to break the circuit of thegenerating coil when the speed of the magneto reaches a predeterminedpoint, thus rendering the magneto ineffective.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition magnetohaving a stationar 7 current generating coil, a rotor, and interruptermechanism, with a governing device which is adapted to rotate with saidrotor, which governing device operates to open the circuit of'thegenerating coil when. the speed of the magneto reaches a predeterminedpoint.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part behereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of theinvention:-

Figure 1 is aview, partly in side elevation and partly in section,showing a magneto generator having my improved governin devices appliedthereto;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with the cap or cover for theinterrupter and governing devices removed;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in transverse section, showing the interrupterand the operating cam therefor;

showing diagrammati cally the windings of the generator coil and thearrangement of the interrupter, the governing device and the condenser.

The present invention i directed to a governing device for a magneto orgenerator, which is especially adapted for furnishing the ignition foran internal combustion engine. It is well known that the speed of thegas engine may be controlled by the controlling of the ignition current.If, when the speed of the gas engine reaches a predetermined desiredpoint, the ignition be broken, then the engine will run idle until thespeed drops soas to again establish the ignition current, and in thi waythe speed of the engine is controlled.

The present invention is directed more particularly to the governingdevice for accomplishing the breaking of the circuit when the magnetoshaft reaches a predetermined speed, the magneto shaft, of course, beingconnected to and operating in a cer tain timed relation with the engineshaft. The magneto or generator is provided with the usual interrupterwhich produces in the generating coil an ignition current. Mount ed onand rotating with the shaft of the magneto or generator is my improvedgoverning device which consists of a weighted member disposed so as tobe under the influence of centrifugal force whereby said weighted memberwill be moved to break the circuit of the generating coil when the speedof the magneto shaft reaches a predetermined point. This weighted memberforms a part of the circuit and is preferably oneof the contacts, theother of which is preferably stationary relative to the movement of theweighted member although it is constantly rotating with the magnetoshaft. The weighted member is moved by a spring so as to normally holdthe contacts of the governing device in engagement and thus establishthe circuit. When the speed of the shaft reaches the desired point, thecentrifugal force acting on the weighted member opens the contacts andthus breaks the circuit of the generating coil.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I have shown my improved governing device as applied to a magneto orgenerator of the well-known Dixie type, wherein the ignition current isgenerated in a stationary generating coil and the flow of flux is variedby a rotor operated by the main shaft of the magneto. The magnetogenerator is indicated in the drawings at G and the operating shaft isindicated at 1. This operating shaft is connected to the engine shaft ofthe gas engine so as to rotate in a certain desired timing relativethereto. Mounted directly on the rotating shaft is a rotor which isadapted to vary the flux flow through the stationary generating coil,indicated at 2.

The primary of the stationary generating coil 2 is connected with aninterrupter. This interrupter may be of'any desired type, but as shownin the drawings it includes a relatively fixed member 3 having a contactpoint at and an interrupter lever having a contact point 6. Thisinterrupter lever 5 is actuated in one direction by a spring '7 whichnormally tends to hold the contacts in engagement. A cam mounted on theshaft 1 is adapted to engage a bumper 9 on the interrupter lever 5 whichcooperates with the cam, and the cam is formed with depressions whichpermit the spring .to'move the interrupter lever to cause the contactsto engage with each other. The cam is also provided with high :pointswhich engage the bumper to move the interrupter lever to separate thecontacts. The number of interruptions to each rotation of the shaft willdepend, of course, upon the construction of the rotor. In the drawings,the cam is shown as having four high points which would resultinfourignition sparks for each rotation of the magneto shaft. Theseparts are of the well known construction and form no part of the presentinvention per se.

Threaded into the end of the shaft 1 is abolt 10 having a square head11. On this threaded bolt 10 is a metal disk 12 adjacent which is a disk.15 of insulated material, and outside of this disk 13 is a metal disk il which is also insulated from the bolt 10. A fiber bushing 15 extendsabout the bolt and serves as a means for insulating the metal disk 1%from the bolt. lvlounted on the disk :lst is a post '16 which carries aweighted lever 17. This weighted lever 17 is provided with a contact 18.A screw 19 extends through the square head 11 of the bolt 10 and'at itsinner end carries a contact 20. A spring 21 connected at one end to theweighted lever 17 and at the other end to a post 22 normally tends tohold the contacts 18 and 20 in engagement, The lever 17, thescrew 1 9,and the contacts 18 and 20, together with the spring 21, form thegoverning devices. The disk '1 on which these governing devices aremounted, rotates with the bolt 10 which is threaded in the shaft land,therefore, rotates with the rotor of "the magneto or generator. At-

"tadhedtothedisk 14; is a et-hem 23 "which extends outwardly, and thenceover 'mally presses against the strip 28.

the head 11 of the bolt 10, but said strip is free from contact withsaid head 11;

The entire governing device and also the interrupter are inclosed in acap or cover 2a which seats against a shoulder25 on the form of themagneto or generator G and is held tl ereon in any su able A yieldingbrush 26 is carried oy this cap and nor- The brush is mounted in a cupsocket which is secured to the cap by a suitable nut27, and this nut andsocket is insulated from'the cap by insulating material, indicated at28. The primary circuit of the generating coil is connected to a line 29which in turn is connected .to' the yielding brush 26 by means of athumb nut 30. The primary current, therefore, is led through the brush28 to the strip and through the strip 23 to the metal disk '14, andthence through the spring 21 and the weighted member 1; to the contact18, and when the contacts 18 and'QO are closed, then the primary circuitis closed so far as this governing device is concerned. When, however,these contacts open, the

primary circuit is broken.

Referring-now to the diagrammatic view in Fig. ik, l have illustrateddiagrammatically the spark plug at 31'; the secondary generating coil isindicated at S, and the circuit led from the secondary coil to the sparkplug is indicated at 32. The primary-circuit is indicatedatp. The normalinterrupter for the primary circuit is indicated at I, and includes therotating cam '8,'the contact 6 and the contact l. The governing deviceis indicated at G and includes the movable contact '18, and therelatively stationary contact 20. The governing device G and interrupterarein series with the primary circuit p. The condenser, indicated at C,is connected across both the interrupter contacts and thecontacts of thegoverning device. I have indicated also diagrammatically a circuit '33with hand switch 34 for cuttin out at will the 'encrating circuit.

From the above description, it will be apparent that T have provided agoverning device consisting of a weighted member operated upon bycentrifugal force as the entire governin device rotates with the shaftof the magneto or generator. When the speed of the shaft of thegenerator or magneto reaches a predetermined point, the weighted loverof the governing device will be moved so as to separate the contacts ofthe governing device and thus break the primary circuit. inasmuch as thegovernin'g dev'iee'isin 'seriesi h the interrupter, the breaking of theprimary circuit "will render the generating coil ineifective. Whenthe-speed 'o'ft'h-e magneto drops below this predetermined point." thespring will cause theicontacts 1-8 and '20 to close, and v this willagain establish the generating current.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an extremely simple anddurable device whereby the generating current may be cut in or outaccording to the speed of the magneto or generator, and thus the magnetoor generator may be used for controlling the speed of a L as enginewhich is operated in connection therewith and which receives itsignition current from the magneto or generator.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and thearrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit ofthis invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Thecombination of a gas engine having a sparking device, and an electricgenerator having a shaft and primary and secondary generating coils, aninterrupter for the primary coil actuated from the generator shaft, anda governing device actuated from the generator shaft including contactsin series with the interrupter and movable with and controlled by thespeed of the engine for breaking the circuit of the primary coil whenthe engine shaft reaches a predetermined speed.

2. The combination of a gas engine having a sparking device, an ignitionmagneto having a stationary current generating coil including secondaryand primary windings, an interrupter for the primary winding actuated bythe shaft of the magneto, a governing device including contacts inseries with the interrupter and movable with the shaft of the magnetoand controlled by the speed thereof for breaking the circuit of theprimary winding when the engine shaft reaches a predetermined speed.

3. The combination of an ignition magneto having a stationary currentgenerating coil, a rotor, interrupter mechanism actuated in unison withthe movement of the rotor and driven from the shaftthereof, andv agoverning device adapted to rotate with said rotor and having contactsadapted to open the circuit of the generating coil when the shaft of themagneto reaches a predetermined speed.

4. The combination of an ignition magneto having a normally stationarygenerating coil, a rotor independent of said coil and adapted to varythe flux flow therethrough, an interrupter actuated by said rotor,circuit connections between the interrupter and coil, and a governingdevice actuated by and with said rotor and adapted to open and close thecircuit between said coil and interrupter.

5. The combination of an ignition magneto having a rotating shaft, agenerating coil, an interrupter for the generating coil actuated by saidrotating shaft, a metal support rotating with and insulated from saidshaft, a weighted member mounted on said support and having a contact, afixed member rotating with said shaft and having a contact adapted tocooperate with said contact of the weighted member, and a spring fornormally holding said contacts in en gagement, said contacts being inseries with the interrupter.

6. The combination of an ignition magneto having a rotating shaft, agenerating coil, an interrupter controlled by the rotating shaft, ametal disk supported by and insulated from said shaft, a lever pivotedto said disk and having a contact, a member fixed to the shaft androtating therewith and having a contact adapted to be engaged by thecontact on the lever, a spring connecting the lever to the disk forholding the contacts in engagement and for establishing a circuitbetween the disk and the lever, and means whereby said contacts areconnected in series with the interrupter.

7. The combination of an ignition magneto having a rotating shaft, agenerating coil, an interrupter controlled by the rotating shaft, ametal disk supported by and insulated from said shaft, a lever pivotedto said disk, and having a contact, a member fixed to the shaft androtating therewith and having a contact adapted to be engaged by thecontact on the lever, a spring connecting the lever to the disk forholding the contacts in engagement and for establishing a circuitbetween the disk and the lever, a cap carried by the magneto andinclosing the interrupter and the contacts, a yielding brush carried bythe cap and connected to the primary of the generating coil, and a metalstrip carried by said disk and adapted to be engaged by said yieldingbrush.

8. A governor for controlling the speed of a gas engine comprising incombination, a source of current including primary and secondary coils,interrupter contacts for the primary coil, a governor controlled by thespeed of the engine, said governor having contacts for controlling theeffective action of the'primary coil, and a condenser for bridging thecontacts of the governor and the contacts of the interrupter for theprimary circuit.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ROBERT MACK WARREN.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Batents,

Washington, I G.

